STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN SUNDAY, OCT. 9, 2022

• BAFFERT AMERICAN PHAROAH GRAND SLAM A FIRST • FRESHENED EDDIE’S NEW DREAM MEETS CAL-BREDS • EARLY PICK 5 POOL TODAY COULD PASS $3 MILLION • $1 BEERS, SODAS, $2 HOT DOGS TOMORROW • CAVE ROCK POSTS 104 BEYER IN AMERICAN PHAROH

BAFFERT RUNS 1, 2, 3, 4 IN AMERICAN PHAROAH

Bob Baffert is accustomed to winning the American Pharoah Stakes, having captured the race named for his 2015 Triple Crown king 10 times in the past 25 runnings through last year.

But the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer experienced a first in the 52nd version of the race yesterday, winning for the 11th time as his four starters finished one, two, three and four in the field of eight two-year-olds. Cave Rock, the 2-5 favorite, led throughout the mile and one sixteenth race to win by 5 ¼ lengths.

The son of Arrogate was followed by National Treasure, Hejazi and Gandolfini.

“I can’t remember ever running one, two, three, four,” Baffert said after the sweep. “The really good ones come around quickly and Cave Rock’s always been different, built a bit different than Arrogate (who sired two other winners Saturday).

“He’s powerful, stronger and quick. He runs with his head sort of low like Arrogate. He keeps improving and trains easily.

“I really don’t work him too fast; you have to count on their talent to get them there. Those were some good horses behind him; you’re going to hear about them down the road.”

Baffert’s quartet did not come on the cheap, Gandolfini fetching $470,000, Cave Rock $550,000, National Treasure $500,000 and Hejazi $3,550,000 for a total of $5,070,000.

The winner of the American Pharoah received $180,000 plus 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The runner-up earned four points, the third-place finisher two and the fourth one.

The nominated winner is entitled to a fees-paid entry into the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Nov. 4.

CECIL SEES IMPROVEMENT FOR EDDIE’S NEW DREAM

Barn favorite Eddie’s New Dream comes out of an uncharacteristic sixth-place finish in a Grade II route race against open company to a downhill turf sprint against California-breds in next Saturday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Ben Cecil expects the gray daughter of Square Eddie to show dramatic improvement.

“She’s been in tougher races, and I think last time was a bit quick back,” said Cecil, who trains the four-year-old for principal owner/breeder Reddam Racing LLC.

“We freshened her a bit, so I’m hopeful.

“She’s been very consistent. Her last race was probably her worst but we did come back in like two weeks and I don’t think that really suited her.”

Eddie’s New Dream, who has been ridden in each of her 18 starts by Mario Gutierrez, has a 5-6-2 record from 18 starts with earnings of $425,600.

“She’s provided a great service to the barn,” Cecil said.

EARLY PICK 5 POOL PROJECTED TO EXCEED $3 MILLION

No one picked all five winners in Santa Anita’s popular 50 cent Early Pick 5 wager on Saturday, creating a massive carryover into today of $406,146. With the Grade III, $200,000 Surfer Girl stakes anchoring Sunday’s “Early 5,” track officials project the total Early Pick 5 pool will exceed $3 million.

Sunday’s Early Pick 5, which features a low takeout of 14 percent, will be comprised of races one through five.

The Surfer Girl, for two-year-old fillies at one mile on turf going as the fifth race, has attracted a field of 10, headed by 8-5 morning line favorite Comanche Country.

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita offers holiday racing tomorrow, which also is Dollar Day, with $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs. First post time is 1 p.m. There will no live racing on Friday, Oct.14 . . . Cave Rock earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure yesterday in winning the Grade I American Pharoah, while runner-up and stablemate National Treasure checked in with a 97 Beyer. Going to Vegas posted a 94 Beyer in winning the Grade I Rodeo Drive, while And Tell Me Nolies posted a 75 Beyer in winning the Grade II Chandelier Stakes…With three wins yesterday including And Tell Me Nolies in the Chandelier, Peter Miller took a 6-5 lead among trainers with Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill runners-up . . . Congratulations to owners Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing, MyRacehorse and trainer Phil D’Amato on Going to Vegas leading throughout Saturday’s Grade I Rodeo Drive Stakes to win it for the second year in a row. The five-year-old daughter of Goldencents joined Avenge (2016, 2017) as the only other back-to-back winner in 46 runnings of the race, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event giving the nominated winner automatic entry into the Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 5 . . . Multiple stakes winner and triumphant in nine of 17 races in her career Leggs Galore breezed five furlongs this morning in a minute flat for D’Amato who has the five-year-old daughter of Bayern nominated to this Saturday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Hail Freedom, winner of four straight races and a candidate for Sunday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap, worked a half-mile on the training in 47 a bullet seconds Sunday for Doug O’Neill, who also sent Satin Doll five furlongs in 1:00.20 for Sunday’s $85,000 Anoakia Stakes. Hail Freedom’s clocking was more than two seconds faster than the average time of 49.37. In all there were 193 recorded workouts this morning, 54 on the training track.